Black Caps: How

It was hardly a vintage Black Caps performance in the 4-1 ODI series loss to India. Some advanced their cause, others raised more World Cup questions.

Cricket writer Mark Geenty rates the 16 Black Caps who took the field.

Martin Guptill (4 matches, 47 runs at 11.75, strike rate 107, high score 15) Rating: 2

A series to forget against some impeccable Indian seam bowling in the corridor, then suffered a back injury before game five. His World Cup spot isn’t in doubt but he’ll want to plunder against Bangladesh to regain some confidence.

Colin Munro (4 matches, 70 runs at 17.5, SR 90, HS 31) Rating: 4

Dropped mid-series then Guptill’s injury earned him a reprieve. Played it like a T20 innings in Wellington and looked set before chopping on, continuing a frustrating trot of one half-century from 16 ODI innings. Still World Cup bound but may be a backup batsman who can chime in with some overs.

Henry Nicholls (5 matches, 84 runs at 21, SR 70, HS 30no) Rating: 6

No big score but looked assured enough to suggest he can be successful opening the batting. A safer option than Munro and versatile enough to cover any top-six spot. Backup wicketkeeping may be a stretch but has that string to his bow.

Kane Williamson (5 matches, 162 runs at 32.40, SR 70, HS 64)

Rating: 6

Feels strange not to be rating the skipper 8 or 9 but it wasn’t his best work by any means. India’s pacemen bowled superbly to him, particularly in Wellington, and frustrated him out with a loose shot to spin. For the team’s cup hopes they need his lean trot to end here.

Ross Taylor (5 matches, 177 runs at 44.25, SR 88, HS 93) Rating: 7

Another series averaging over 40 for the batting kingpin and could have been higher but for a poor non-review in Wellington. Was at the crease early in most matches. The fact he’s maintaining a high level was one of the positives to emerge from the India series.

Tom Latham (5 matches, 133 runs at 33.25, SR 86, HS 51)

Rating: 6

Pass mark for showing he can be key man steadying the ship at No 5, but frustratingly didn’t kick on into the late overs to set it up for the hitters. For a good player of spin was still dismissed in all four innings by the tweakers. A key man at the World Cup and tidy enough with the gloves.

Jimmy Neesham (2 matches, 44 runs at 44, SR 138, HS 44; 5.5 overs, 2 wickets at 19, economy rate 6.51) Rating: 6

Showed his hitting prowess in his one knock in Wellington, looking in control before a moment of madness. A cup certainty now but as always, his bowling requires some polish and needs to prove he can guide home a tense chase.

Colin de Grandhomme (3 matches, 14 runs at 7, SR 88, HS 11; 25 overs, 3 wickets at 40.33, ER 4.84)

Rating: 5 Outstanding with the ball in helpful conditions in Hamilton, a spell he desperately needed to remind people what he’s capable of. Looks like they’ve invested in him for the cup but remains a worry if the ball’s not swinging or seaming and, like Neesham,